Why patients at Dill Hall Surgery, Church, being relocated

A letter sent to Dill Hall Surgery patients stated Dr Paramundayil Joseph, who is the only doctor listed on the GP practices' website, will no longer run primary care services as his contract has come to an end.

Details of the “unforeseen circumstances” which caused the contract to end are not currently know.

The contract will be handled by the East Lancashire Alliance, which is described as an alliance of GP practices covering 47 practices and a population of 390,000 patients across East Lancashire, for an initial nine-month period, with an option to extend for three months.

Other staff members have been transferred to the East Lancashire Alliance and all patients will continue to be seen at Acorn Primary Health Care Centre, in Blackburn Road, Accrington.

This means that patients can continue to see the same people for their appointments.

Dill Hall Surgery (Image: Google)

According to a letter sent out to patients, “the long-term future of the practice will be determined in the coming year and patients will be involved in any decisions that may affect them”.

Dr David Levy, medical director for NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: “Due to unforeseen circumstances, the contract for Dr Joseph to run primary care services at Dill Hall Surgery has come to an end.

“The contract will be handled by the East Lancashire Alliance for an initial nine-month period, with an option to extend for three months.

“We would like to reassure all patients and staff that our priority is to ensure patients continue to have access to safe, high-quality services.

“All staff have been transferred to the East Lancashire Alliance and all patients will continue to be seen at Acorn Primary Health Care Centre, which is less than half a mile from the current practice building.”

The East Lancashire Alliance has been approached for comment.